Murphy's have extensive plantings on the grounds at Villa Serena. The California-like dry season requires the sprinklers going almost full time.

That's the main building at Villa Serena in the back. The dining tables go across the balcony along the front of the second story, with beautiful view of the palms in front of the beach.

Beachfront dining at a café in Tamarindo.

With occasional earthquakes and hurricanes, there are few remaining colonial buildings. This roadside home shows details of traditional construction, with venting beneath the eaves.